[f. LAIR sb.1 or v.1 + -AGE.]
1. The placing of cattle in a lair or lairs.
1881. Daily News, 31 Jan., 2/6. The lands and buildings at Birkenhead approved by the Privy Council for the landing or lairage of foreign animals.
1881. Cork Constitution, 12 April. The housing and lairage of stall-fed cattle.
2. a. collect. Space where cattle may lie down and rest. b. An establishment where cattle are placed in lairs.
1883. Summary, 26 July, 6/4. Cattle lairage will be provided.
1887. L’pool Daily Post, 14 Feb., 3/7. He visited the lairages and found several oxen suffering from suppurating wounds on the head.
1893. Standard, 15 Aug., 5/1. The butchers … prefer to attend the lairages at Birkenhead.
3. attrib. and Comb.
1871. Daily News, 16 Sept., 3/6. His [the prisoner’s] duty being to collect the outdoor lairage accounts.
1882. Pall Mall Gaz., 26 July, 7/2. Increasing the lairage accommodation at Deptford Cattle Market.
1883. Rosher, Princ. Rating, 25. Lairage dues, levied on the consignees of foreign cattle.
1896. Times (weekly ed.), 599/2. Lairage-slaughtered beef and mutton.
